EDBO l CH 07

Episode 7 

At least I was now sure there wouldn’t be any bloodshed inside the drawing room.

While I was trying to stay calm, Bastian hugged me tightly again.

“It’s fine. I found you, that’s all that matters.”

His arms were trembling slightly.

For a second, I almost patted his back out of sympathy. Why was he acting so pitifully?

Awkwardly trapped in his arms, I glanced at the knight commander standing near the wall.

He had literally turned his back on us, as if he’d decided to pretend nothing was happening.

Well, yeah — to an outsider, this must look kind of… embarrassing.

But the longer this hug went on, the more uncomfortable it got.

I cleared my throat quietly.

“Um, Your Grace?”

I tapped his back carefully, meaning please let me go now.

Bastian flinched, then slowly released me.

His expression looked… strange. Shocked? Stiff? Definitely more serious than when he’d first walked in.

“Did you just call me… Your Grace?”

His blue eyes trembled.

Oh no. Not again.

Please tell me I didn’t trigger another death flag.

He straightened up and called coldly,

“Huon.”

The same man who’d been near tears just moments ago now sounded completely icy.

The knight hurried forward and bowed deeply.

“Forgive me, my lord. The young lady has lost her memory.”
“……”
“I have no excuse, sir.”

He wasn’t kneeling, but his posture practically screamed please spare me.

What on earth was happening now?

Before I could process it, Bastian suddenly drew his sword and aimed it at the knight’s throat.

Are you insane?

I was the only one panicking — the knight didn’t even flinch.

The sharp blade touched his skin, and blood trickled down, yet he stood completely still.

Hello? You’re bleeding?!

“Remind me. What was my order?”
“To bring the young lady here without allowing her a single scratch.”
“Good. You remember.”

Bastian smiled — beautifully. Like an angel.

“And yet, here she is, missing her memories. Wouldn’t that count as disobeying orders?”

A chill ran down my spine.

His tone was calm, almost gentle, but it was full of killing intent.

Huon bowed his head.

“I have no excuse.”
“Did you think my words were a joke?”
“Never, my lord.”

Bastian’s blue eyes glimmered under the chandelier.

“Then pay with your life.”
“Yes, sir.”

This was insane!

It wasn’t even the knight’s fault — it was the author’s! The writer clearly didn’t bother to explain my amnesia properly!

So much for “no bloodshed in the drawing room.” I was seconds away from seeing a head roll at my feet.

My poor, cursed life.

“W-wait a minute!”

Both of them turned toward me. I was sweating bullets.

“Did I… did I do something wrong?”

Bastian frowned slightly, tilting his head.

“What are you saying, Amel?”
“……”
“There’s no such thing as your fault in this world.”

You say that while pointing a sword at someone’s neck? Seriously?

“Then why…”
“He failed to protect you. This is his punishment.”

What? Protect me? I’ve known this knight for like five hours!

But my panic clearly wasn’t getting through to Bastian.

He turned back to Huon.

“Any last words?”
“Please, kill me.”

“W-wait! You don’t need to do this!”

I waved my hands frantically.

“Isn’t human life precious? And besides, it’s not really his fault I lost my memories…”

“……”

“…I think.”

Bastian’s sharp gaze silenced me immediately. His expression didn’t change, but those cold eyes could kill someone on their own.

Was this really the same man who’d been on the verge of tears moments ago?

Still, I couldn’t just stand there while someone got murdered.

I was a decent, law-abiding citizen who respected human life!

“So, please… could you maybe put the sword down?”

My voice came out weak and shaky. My heart was racing.

After a tense silence—

“…I’m sorry for scaring you, Amel.”

When I glanced up, he was calmly sheathing his sword.

Huh. That actually worked?

“…Thank you.”

Thank god. Maybe he wasn’t completely insane after all.

I was just starting to relax when Bastian smiled gently.

“I’ll take him outside and behead him there.”

…Excuse me?

“W-wait, what?!”

Why did this conversation take such a turn?!

He frowned in thought for a moment, then nodded to himself.

“Don’t worry. I’ll make sure to clean up the blood so you won’t see any mess.”

“……”

“So just sit tight, okay?”

His smile was so sweet it was terrifying.

Maybe I should just bite my tongue and faint.

***

At this point, I started seriously wondering what went on inside the author’s head.

Why didn’t they clearly mention that Bastian had an extreme sister complex?

Was it just to torture me? It had to be.

Anyway, Bastian really did seem ready to execute the knight. Huon followed him out calmly — like a man who’d already accepted death.

And me, the only sane person in this mansion, had to perform a tearful one-woman protest to stop them.

After endless pleading, Bastian finally agreed not to kill Huon.

The knight looked strangely moved.

“Thank you for your mercy, Lady Amel… I mean, Lady Sophie.”

Ugh. Not that “Sophie” thing again. None of these people are normal.

I thought that was the end of the chaos — but no.

Bastian decided he needed to confirm my “condition” and immediately summoned the imperial chief physician.

How could he just order around a royal doctor like that? Even if he was the emperor’s childhood friend, he was still just a duke!

I scoffed when I heard he’d sent someone to fetch the physician.

No way the man would actually come.

“I greet Duke Bastian Cedric.”

…He came.

In thirty minutes.

I guess the emperor really was that chill about lending his doctors to his best friend.

And so, I ended up lying in a luxurious bed while the imperial chief physician examined me.

“There’s nothing wrong with her health,” he concluded.

I nodded proudly.

Of course not! I’d lived a healthy, disciplined life in that village — plenty of vegetables, good sleep, steady work at the inn!

Bastian, standing a short distance away, silently watched me.

Then he smiled faintly and said to the doctor,

“Again.”

“I’m really fine—”

“Again.”